Health Ministry to promote hospital superintendents across the country

 

The Ministry of Health plans to promote medical superintendents at people’s hospitals in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw so that they can better manage hospitals in the regions and states, according to Dr Aye KoKo, head of Yangon Region Health Department. 

“Soon, the medical superintendents who have same level as deputy directors-general will be promoted to the director-general level. Some station hospitals and township hospitals with 100-200 beds have no separate organizational set-up. Plans are under way to appoint staffers in conformity with the new organisational set-ups,” he added.

The reorganisation of hospital staffs and promotion of superintendents is part of a larger national effort to expand and improve health services. The Health Ministry will also upgrade people’s hospitals throughout Yangon Region. During this year, Thalyin Hospital, which has 150 beds, was upgraded to 200 beds. The upgrade of station hospitals, rural health clinics and branches is also under way. 

In conjunction with recent increases in the national health budget, people’s hospitals in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw are offering free medical services such as laboratory examinations, x-rays and ultrasounds. 

According to the Health Ministry, there were 924 people’s hospitals across the country in the 2010-2011 fiscal year; 987 in 2011-2012 fiscal year; and 1010inthe 2012-2013 fiscal year. The number of people’s hospitals reached 1066 in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. 

Since the current government came to power, the national health budget has steadily increased. The health budget was Ks 92008.786 million in the 2011-2012 fiscal year; Ks 400719.63 million in the 2012-2013 fiscal year;and Ks 528573.85 million in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The Health Ministry has further increased its budget to Ks 652744.589 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.